Thread: Astonishing Mower Emission Facts in Honor of Earth Day!

In honor of Earth day, I thought it would be appropiate to tell everyone how much in emissions we create by doing our jobs. The purpose isn't to bash our industry, just to bring awareness so we are always thinking about it.

2. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a traditional gas powered lawn mower produces as much air pollution as 43 new cars each being driven 12,000 miles.

3. One hour of mowing is the equivalent of driving 350 miles in terms of volatile organic compounds.

4. One gas mower spews 87 lbs. of the greenhouse gas CO2, and 54 lbs. of other pollutants into the air every year.

5. One gas mower running for an hour emits the same amount of pollutants as eight new cars driving 55 mph for the same amount of time, according to the Union of Concerned Scientists

6. According to the California Air Resources Board (CARB), an hour of weed whacking is the emissions equivalent of driving 834 miles in a modern automobile!

7. The EPA states that 17 million gallons of fuel, mostly gasoline, are spilled each year while refueling lawn equipment. That's more than all the oil spilled by the Exxon Valdez, in the Gulf of Alaska.

Sounds pretty bad doesn't it! I like to think that landscapers are helping the environment because we can probably do a property more efficiently with less engine run time than the homeowner could! What do you guys think?